RUSIZI, RWANDA – The first high end eco-lodge in Rwanda will be housed in the 1,015 sq km Nyungwe forest located in the south western part of the country.
Owned by the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) and raised from the ground by ROKO Construction, the US$7.2million (Rwf3.99billion) 25 villa complex will stand out tall in the region.
“The construction of the eco-lodge is timely as it will address accommodation problems in Nyungwe. It will be an important milestone in our efforts towards improving tourism experience in all our national parks while increasing tourists’ length of stay as they discover Nyungwe’s awesome treasures,” the minister of commerce, industry, investment promotion, cooperatives and tourism Mr. Protais Mitali said while laying the foundation stone at the Gisakura site some 225km from Kigali city on September 28.
The villas, with an awesome view of the forest and surrounding tea fields, is an example of conserving bio-diversity by balancing tourism with protecting forests sensitive and diverse plant and animal life.
Nyungwe forest, which was lifted to National park status in 2005, has 13 species of primates including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and several species of large mammals like golden cats, bush pigs and the black fronted duiker.
Nyungwe also has over 275 bird species, 25 of which are endemic to the Albertine rift.
The architect at the site Mr. Rehal Sandeep from Kenya’s Studio Infinity said use of local materials will form a key part with the use of timber, local reeds and banana fibres.
Rwandan art will provide spice to the setting.
The local community has already embraced the project.
In total, 450 workers are being employed at the site, 50 of whom are expatriates from within the region.
One of the Roko workers from Uganda told the East African Review that he is glad that the site has opened an employment opportunity for him to come and work here.
Upon completion, residents are expected to provide food to service the eco-lodge.
“You should not beg money from tourists but should work for it. We should develop a culture of hospitality and working hard,” Mitali told the local community that gathered to witness the event.
The director general of ORTPN Ms. Rosette Chantal Rugamba told East African Business Week in a separate interview that the laying of the foundation stone was a fulfillment of a process that had begun much earlier.
“We want the tourists to stay longer for at least seven days and this will help complete the circuit. From Nyungwe tourists will be able to travel to Gisenyi by boat and then Rwanda’s Volcanoes Park for the gorillas.”
A Kenyan business consultant who helped bring the whole concept together said the timing was right.
“It is a right idea and the high quality villas will attract up market guests. This is the first lodge, another lodge is planned,” the consultant said.
The Nyungwe eco-lodge will comprise a presidential suite, luxury villas, forest and tea villas, tree houses, nature centre library and view tower, reception, kitchen, dining and fitness centre and quarters for staff and drivers.
The reception area has a cylindrical semi opaque fabric inner shade with heat with heat proof canvas lining and sisal woven Rwandan material.
Traditional Rwandan artefacts will encase interior design accessories.
Tourism is Rwanda’s third foreign exchange earner and therefore the need for continued investment in the sector is part of the hymn book at ORTPN.
Last year $36million was collected by the treasury from 31,000 visitors.
For 2007, Rwanda targets to woo 40,000 expected to generate revenue worth $42million.
